Chapter 14 King of Lotan

Chapter 14 King of Lotan

The captured women and children taken into Kara were tossed over the city wall when the withdrawing general refused to bargain for them because they were slaves or concubines. A few survived the fall with broken bones and taken back into Kara to be made slaves in the rich merchant households. The captured ill soldiers healed in the temples were traded for cattle and horses to be released unharmed. The Nubians waved torches to call the ships lingering offshore to take them home. Dracon and the warriors celebrated in Kara the victory for three days before going back home with tons of booty to celebrate Queen Andromeda giving birth to another princess, Sarah. The soldiers altered wagons and carts with new runners to make them slide across the snowy landscape. Homer sent his mermaids to bring the ships to carry his elf pirates home. He had to go another route to bring Prince Eiras’s armor back to his family. The Lotan nomads accompanied them up the coast on the Aphrodite to the Dark Mountains when he left his men in the company of elf villagers fascinated to here news of the outside world. He took his first mate Trevor on his journey inland along with some Lotan soldiers. They traveled on horseback carrying one sledge behind them with the armor chest and their food rations. They followed the Opra River through the giant forest towns to the capital Tenochititlan along the swamps. King Oskar and Queen Penelope wailed as Homer recited the peasant rescue, Homer losing his horse, Eiras saving Homer from the Nubians, Homer turning around to shoot the spearman before riding off to the troops, the battle Eiras was trampled on, and watching Eiras die while holding his hand. Trevor opened the trunk of the armor of Eiras.

The Lady of the Lake was summoned to the courtyard where the monarchs and heirs are chosen by dropping Eiras’s sword into a fish pond. She rose out of the pond to gaze upon the stone coronation throne with Oskar sitting on it. His wife and daughter stood behind him. Oskar asked the goddess to anoint his daughter Kira as the heir to his throne now that Eiras had been killed. The goddess refused for the heir of Eiras was alive and well. Shocked, the family begged to know the whereabouts of this heir so he or she may reside in the palace. The goddess assured them that the heir will be known soon and when he grows old enough, she shall return to anoint him as heir with the magical sword she given Eiras several years ago. She took the sword beaming bright like the sun and disappeared into the pond. The family returned to the great hall to announce the birth of Eiras’s son and vowed to embrace the child and his mother into the palace. A leader of the Lotan nomads named Brommus whispered “Danya” and peaked around to make sure nobody heard him. Oskar and Penelope spoke prayers for their son’s soul and a prayer for their grandson to come live with them. His family will also be forever welcome.

Oskar had the will of his son written right before he left retrieved from the scribe room. A funeral feast was arranged and Oskar invited all the Lotan nomads to dine with him. A priest sang prayers for his soul and the Lotans paid tribute to their friend and trade partner. Brommus stood by the central hall fire speaking how he had met Eiras as he was exploring the grasslands for elves and nomads to trade with. His sister Danya fed him every visit and he gave her cauldrons, knives, and mirrors for her hospitality. When he left for war, she gave him a leather jerkin to attach his bronze and iron armor plates to. In return, he gave her a cow and calf to earn a better trading exchanges with milk, cream, butter, and cheese at her disposal. Homer got up to recited his mischievous pupil skipping rocks near mermaids and being dragged underwater to force an apology from him. Kira spoke on her big brother teaching her to ride a horse and using magic to make flowers grow bigger. Oskar and Penelope relayed what a sweet boy he was at the beginning and watch grow up to be a great tradesmen. The scribe read the will of Prince Eiras granting a freshwater mussel necklace for Homer he intended for his Winter Solstice gift. To Brommus, he granted his armor, his brown horse to make the nomads great traders and warriors, and saddle bag he started making for the Winter Solstice. To Danya, a gray speckled horse, his bow, and a saddle bag he had started making for the Winter Solstice. To his family, the rest of his possessions and revealed their Winter Solstice gifts were in a box under his bed. The leather archer bracer is for his father. The purple glass goblets are for his mother. The painted maple box is for Kira. Oskar questioned these gifts for Brommus and Danya, were these the ones who have his grandson? Brommus approached the king for Eiras’s armor and bow sitting in the chest. Oskar asked if his sister Danya had a child with Eiras. Brommus affirmed he had no knowledge of such a child but Danya had left on a trading expedition to Armorica to the north of Kadacia last year and came back with a baby she claimed was found deserted in a temple. She promised the high priest to take in the boy and raise him as her own naming the boy Ragnar after the god of war in their culture. It was possible she hid her pregnancy from being unmarried and had the baby during the expedition that took months to complete. King Oskar bestowed gifts of new armor to his guests who fought with his son, tunics of iron rings riveted and twisted on wires called chain mail. Lotan craftsmen had been experimenting with iron making cauldrons, stronger swords, barbed arrows, and armor. The chain mail is very effective against sword blows, Oskar tested it himself practicing with his generals. Sand and oil polish it though the rubbing of the rings scratch off much rust. Homer and the Lotan nomads graciously accepted the gifts.

Homer wished to see this heir of Eiras and carried on north to the Plains of Julia where the nomads spend their winter along the Masha River. Brommus failed to see his sister greeting them home and found her ill inside their canvas tent wrapped in a bear fur blanket. Ragnar was playing on his reed mat bedding with carved wood horses Eiras had given when he visited last. Danya asked for Eiras and was told of his gifts to her. She wept as she screamed his name. She shrieked on how Eiras promised to marry when he returned because he just knew Ragnar was his son even if she denied it. Homer gave her medicine and three days later she recovered enough to be move to the palace. Oskar and Penelope was delighted to hold their grandson and bestowed Eiras’s bed chamber for the pair. It had not been touched except for the gifts under the bed because Penelope wished to leave it as Eiras left it until his son arrived. Danya wept for days in Eiras’s bed and went about the room touching everything Eiras had touched. The infant Ragnar didn’t understand all this asking when Eiras was coming back, but enjoyed meeting his grandparents and aunt Kira. Kira took him around the capital in her chariot and bought new clothes for him. Homer and Trevor rode back to the Dark Mountains to return home. Homer heard once reaching the Mermaid Islands that King Dracon healed well and celebrated his victory to receive reports of Blythan colonies were being attacked as the Nubians retreated back to their country.

Chloe was disappointed the general refused to bargain for her return when her brother the king fell. She did enjoy the New Year celebrations around the islands with bonfires, bobbing for apples, fortunes told, carved gourds with spooky faces, and tales recited of spirits returning to the land of the living. Princess Mariah settled into the household nursery and listened to stories about her betrothed. She practiced her needlework and writing. Patrix continued to tutor her and the children educated her on fun in the Northern Islands. News came of Donovan’s wedding to a priestess’s daughter and live happily as Lord and Lady of Illium. Soon it was time to bid farewell to the last of the mermaids as the winter snows set in. Chloe detested this North Sea winter as well as did Mariah. Homer listened to stories of Chloe’s homeland this time of year with his family. The floods had reached the gulf sea and the plowing and sowing of flax, wheat, barley, beans, melons, hops, onions, cucumbers, and cabbages has begun. Grapes, dates, and figs reproduced on their own and didn’t need replanting each year. She watched the farmers from her windows. Then in the spring, they reap their crops before the floods come again. Chloe chatted with the Nubian captives when she could.

The three Nubians taken into Homer’s care were blindfolded and spun around as they left Kara to disorient them enough not to know what direction his home island was. He then took the long way home stopping at different Mermaid Islands to return the soldiers to their houses. The pirates gave the captives spare clothes to keep warm all winter. They refused to wear barbaric pants and settled for woolen robes Homer saved for important meetings. Homer assigned a room for them above the kitchen. All three wondered what happened the night Queen Chloe disappeared. The morning gossip in the barracks was that of the guard who was tied up with magic rope a magician had to be called in to remove. He had no memory of the night before or even his own name. The priests said he was bewitched by a spell from the Firefox and searched for a cure. Later, the guard only remembered being woken up by a noise and was attacked when he checked out the noise. He was most grievous hearing the king was beheaded and stabbed. The priests were more grievous their spells to protect the king failed and were ordered to be executed by his younger brother, the new King Iago. Queen Zoe felt sorry for the guard and gave his deranged mind back to his family who care for him now.

Homer kept the captives busy chopping wood and oiling the horse trappings. Tiny iron bells were tied to the horse trappings that jingled as the sleighs slid across the snow. Winter was the time for bow making and Homer’s elves were constantly gathering wood. It is also time for gathering ice blocks to place in the cellars. Straw from wheat and barley were thrown on top of the ice to keep it from melting. Soon snow cream was made and shared throughout the palace. Dogs followed Homer wherever he went and cats nestled wherever food was stored to collect the mice coming in from the cold. As promised, Homer took Chloe ice fishing with his sons and daughters, and Mariah. Chloe was touched he spent as much time with his daughters as his sons. Her father barely spoke to her and certainly never took her anywhere, she always traveled in her mother’s litter. Her husband only spoke during dinner and it was usually about his hunting expeditions. The children took turns sledding down the riverbank hills as their attention to fishing waned. They then brushed snow off the river and attached bones to their boots to slide across the ice and bat around a ball with poles. Another day after ice fishing, they attached wood planks to their boots and balanced themselves down the mountain slopes with poles. The Nubians freezing in the cold wind resorted to placing deerskin leggings on when they went outside. They took comfort in the decorated boots with wool inside that Ishtar had made for them. This generosity from a ruthless pirate and his family was quite unnerving for the Nubian captives compared to the harsh treatment from Nubian royalty they were accustomed to. Chloe would never dream arguing with her husband or making her children straighten their bedding every morning. Homer and Ishtar insist their children have responsibilities to go with their luxuries.

Chloe spent the quiet winter hours making doll clothes and quilts from cloth scraps with Ishtar. She also knitted mufflers and mittens to give to the poor during the Winter Solstice. Chloe noticed many wealthy women riding in sleighs around Adea kept their hands inside fur muffs. Ishtar explained people who work outside can’t keep their hands hidden in muffs. Chloe embroidered symbols on new shoulder bags for the children with Serena. Godiva gave her a wooden doll covered in fur clothes when she became ill so she would feel better, then told her to keep it to remember her by when she goes home. The Winter Solstice preparations Homer had put up were wondrous to Chloe and Mariah. They decorated the rooms with garlands of red linen bows, ivy, and evergreens that survive the cold winters. Every outside door holds a wreath of evergreens decorated with white mistletoe berries and red holly berries. Homer cut down several evergreen trees to decorate with preserved apples stuck with aniseed and strings of berries. Spiced cider and roasted chestnuts were set at the front door for people who come to sing. Gifts for all the servants were locked inside trunks, even the Nubian slaves and royal captive were to receive gifts. Homer counts three gold coins for each sailor under his command, including the ones offshore who received their gift before they left. Soon the festival day comes and Homer releases the servants to spend the holiday with their families. He forbids the Nubian soldiers to do anything for his family. Chloe was assured the guards will be around the handle the party for they take turn being off duty. Early in the morning, Homer takes twelve geese and twelve loaves of wheat bread to the Temple of Athena for the priests to feed at least two hundred poor people.

During daylight, many villagers and especially the wealthy merchants brought food dishes for the grand feast in the great hall held that night. The visitor is greeted at the gate, presented to Homer and Ishtar wherever they is at the time, and the food placed on the serving tables by the guard. Honey cakes, mince pies, berry tarts, apple fritters, snow cream, cheese wheels, biscuits, fruit preserves, jars of honey and butter, maple syrup, cream sauce, and salted then baked gourd seeds. Ishtar was busy organizing and preparing the food in the kitchen. Plum pudding removed from a copper pot. Meat boiled to make broth and gravy. Cherry, cranberry, strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry tarts were made with clover, chestnut, wheat, or acorn breads. One sticky treat was a bread twisted in braids and a sugary glaze the Nubians never tasted before was spread across it. Sliced apples, sliced gourds, green beans, and turnips were boiled. The children drove a sleigh through town dropping basketfuls of berry tarts and buttered vegetables for the other party hosts. Chloe and Mariah enjoyed the sleigh ride under a fur blanket holding baskets of biscuits. Inside the homes, a pig or goose was roasted, mush boiled, cheese wheels sliced, fruit baked into tarts, vegetables boiled, and ale brought up from the cellar was spiced with mint and aniseed. Mid-afternoon soon comes and the family prepares for the pending party by bathing, slipping on their finest dress robes edged in fur, and oiling their boots.
Chloe discovered the mosaic pool in the palace was heated underneath by burning wood. She knew South Sea people had this technology but had no idea it had spread so far north. Homer explained that is where he got the idea. Piles of used sponges and lavender soaps laid around the pool for the palace occupants to use when their chores were done. Homer made sure Ishtar and him had the pool to themselves by finishing their chores last. The children giggled watching in a doorway at their parents kissing and Jack said they were making another baby. Then Patrix tapped their shoulders to order them to the great hall to welcome the guests. The palace occupants all smelling sweet and in elaborate dress waited for the guests to arrive at dusk. Everyone who comes to the Winter Solstice festival is allowed inside and the gates remain open with the guards handing out small beeswax candles for this is a festival of light returning. Chloe is shocked and appalled all the guests bring empty baskets as if they were going to take something home. Ilio explained the guests will take home whatever food they choose. Mariah was stunned at the flimsy dress of the pauper guests, she had never seen poverty before. Then a few children walk by terrified of the giant palace with cloth wrapped around their feet instead shoes, cloths tied to their heads instead of fur caps, and shivered in tiny clothes covered in patches holding threadbare blankets to keep themselves warm. Ilio and Jack approach to embrace them with welcome. Godiva guided them to the tables full of food. Their eyes pop out from the sight and tore their head wraps off to carry food in them home. Again Chloe is shocked at the guests eating the goodies with their hands and licking their fingers. Ilio tried to explain his father didn’t have enough tableware and utensils for a formal banquet. Daphne and Marah bring the children scarves and mittens that were hanging on the evergreen trees. Lilibeth gives them copper cups of mint spiced milk. Mariah follows Ilio’s example and welcomes the pungent guests. A boy with a new woolen cape edged with patterns in glass beads enters the room to grab Marah’s hand. Marah’s confesses she must see to her guests. He embraces her and whispers in her ear. More guests arrive and the knitted mittens and mufflers soon are removed from the trees.

Homer begins the festival with a large fire lit inside the fireplace with a piece of last year’s fire. In song and music played by villagers the ceremony of the fire lighting is conducted with Jack holding the box where last year’s wood is kept. Then candles were lit by the children as well as Homer and Ishtar. They walked around so the guests may light their gifted candles. A song of praise for the return of the sun is sung by all. Soon the great hall resembled a starlight sky. Torches along the wall were lit. As the singing ceases, a dog, boy, and guard pull a small sled carrying a sick woman. The grandson speaks on how his grandmother would like to thank the infamous King Homer who saved her son from drowning. The son in question was the guard. Homer came forward and kissed her hand. He assured the woman that he was the grateful one for the son was an excellent soldier he could live without. The old lady was lifted from her sled and sat in a chair by the fire. Ishtar came over to offer a cup of spiced ale and raspberry tart. Music filled the air and the people danced. Then Homer kissed his wife’s hand and disappeared through a side door. He returned moments later dressed in long green robes with white fur collar and a holly wreath on his head. He demanded the children join him at the fire.

“Young children, let me tell you a tale of the Holly King. He is the son of the snow god Vanir and the love goddess Ishtar. Once there was the writing/astrology goddess Alma who was lifted to separate the heavens from the sky by her father the great creator god Alano. He made four horses from volcanic fire who race across Alma to give us light during the day and set a large seashell above Alma to give light during the night. Primordial souls became stars. Soon Alma saw her created brothers and sisters marry immortal souls. She wanted a partner and children as well. She sent down a falling star promising to marry the being who finds it. The star crashed into the home of a human man named Pisos who cooled the hot star with water to bring life to a son named Vanir and then a daughter named Ymira from another shooting star. They married on the moon filling the sky with streaks of light where Pisos was appointed the god of money and commerce. The children grew up on earth to become the snow/frost god and ice goddess. Growing up without a mother, their hearts turned cold and caused the world to freeze into eternal winter, killing off many plants needing warmth. This caused as much damage as the fire horses running amok and burning the plants from lack of water. The elves and humans speak of a time when Lotan and Blythe was mostly covered in snow and ice. Animals were given antlers and large paws to dig into the snow to find food under the snow. Creatures learned to fashion stone into tools to hunt, fish, and dig for plant roots. As Vanir became of age to marry, he was betrothed to the love goddess Ishtar. Ishtar melted his heart with love and gave birth to a son named Idun. As the snow and ice receded northwards to Iceland, Idun found golden apples that renew youth to all who eat them. He planted the golden apples everywhere causing the snows to melt. He gave the elves and humans a spring to plant their crops and an autumn to reap them. He gives the winter to his father and aunt to flourish while his mother keeps a few plants alive through the cold months. We elves give thanks to the Holly King as he comes riding a flying white horse to give us gifts of hope that spring will return. He only asks for food for his horse. That is why we celebrate Idun’s Eve and give charity to everyone.”

Homer and his family then toss coins into the air. Several other people also toss bags of coins to the poor guests scrambling to pick them up. Next a guard announced to bring forth any gifts for the Holly King Homer. The elf refugees presented the pirate king’s household with a tapestry of their old homeland before it was destroyed. It made Chloe cry for her home and the warmth of her servants. Oh how much they must miss her. Homer’s servants were not unkind, but very distant, and the Nubian elf refugees refused to work in any room she sat in. The Nubian captives were kept busy all day and could only speak with them at night in the sitting room. Other gifts were presented: a copper candlestick from a merchant, a wooden bowl from a farmer, a pearl silver ring from a blacksmith, seashell necklace from the pauper’s children welcomed by Ilio, a reed basket from a sailor’s wife, a crystal copper ring from a baker, three wooden spoons from a miller, a red glass vase from a chandler, a clay pitcher from a fisherman, a reed flute from a theater actor, a shoulder bag from a carpenter, a painted wooden storage box from a mason, an iron cooking knife from a prostitute, a ceramic bead necklace from a cobbler, dark blue linen sash from a weaver, a saddle bag from a tailor, a brass mirror from a tanner, eight wooden cups from a cooper, clay bowl from a potter, and the boy who grabbed Marah’s hand comes forth with an unstrung bow. Homer examines the bow and strings it to pull back on it. He compliments the craftsmanship and places it with the other gifts. The music restarted and guests danced as well as eat.

As the partygoers celebrated in song and food, Homer’s children asked if the Nubians and Ithacan wished to visit other parties around the city. The bow giver also came. His name is Pepin and has received charity from Ishtar ever since his father had been hung for stabbing a man in a tavern brawl. Many times he had seen Marah come with her mother to their home until his mother died and his siblings went to live with an uncle. He is apprenticed to a carpenter and carves things for Marah in the hope of a betrothal. Tonight he gives her a shell bead necklace and animal wood carvings for her siblings. He states he has made a sled and wishes to try it out tomorrow with Marah. She agrees to the ride. They walked to their friends’ homes and tasted the treats of the season. One elf house was home to Carter, Homer’s first mate on the Aphrodite. He had silver mirrors reflecting candlelight everywhere, painted shields with elf symbols hung on the walls, mosaic tiles on the floor, and brass platters of food. The children and Nubians joined a circle dance where everyone held hands and skipped to a series of repeated steps. As expected, they filled a single basket full of food to take home and ate with their hands. Then they had to return so they could say farewell to their guests. Too soon the bell rings to change the guard and the guests are shuffled out taking food, mittens, and scarves home in their baskets. A few people try to steal the silver plates holding the food, but are glued to the table. Anyone seen struggling to remove them is cast out into the snow for betraying Homer’s charity.

The guards take the serving tables outside to freeze the fish glue and remove the plates. The children place baskets of hay and turnips by the windows for the Holly King. Everyone but the night watch go to bed. The servants return to receive their gifts from Homer the next morning after the morning meal. The servant gift trunks were opened to reveal fabric, pearl and crystal bead necklaces, painted boxes, ceramic tableware, and iron knives given according to rank and occupation. Then Homer gave the Nubian captives wool blankets. Then the family retreated in the sitting room to exchange gifts while the servants continued with their chores. The children were delighted at their gifts from the Holly King, three sleds for all of them to use. Homer and Ishtar gave the children dolls, iron knives, and fur hats. The children in returned acted out the story of the Holly King. Homer and Ishtar exchanged a fur cape with a large hood draping over Ishtar’s shoulders and wool tunic covered in embroidered flowers. Chloe thought it amusing a ferocious pirate wore clothes with feminine symbols. Guards tell the children about seeing the Holly King coming while on watch. Mariah listens intently to this god of giving flying on a horse with wings and leaves gifts for children in their baskets by the window.

Soon Pepin appears with his sled being pulled by his tutor’s horse. After some time Pepin and Marah return soaking wet. They stopped to ice skate along the river when Marah fell through the ice. Pepin grabbed a fallen tree branch to save her and the ice cracked again to cause both to fall in water. He called the horse to them and grabbed the sled to be pulled out by the horse. The children were sledding down the hill with their new sleds when they returned. Patrix carried Marah to her bed chamber. Ishtar ordered warm milk to be brought up. Homer pointed out to Pepin he was also wet and ordered him to follow him to his bed chamber. He took out clothes from his storage chests as Pepin stared at all the boxes and the armor tree inside this grand closet. He retrieved a towel from his wash stand and laid Pepin’s wet clothes upon chairs near the fireplace. He snatched his fur blanket from his bed and wrapped it around Pepin sitting in a chair. He wanted to speak to him. Much time has past since his father had been hung and his mother struggled to feed her children, he is almost a man. He knows how he feels about Marah, he fell in love with his wife as a child and would have done anything to win her love in return. He wished to know what he intended to do with his prospects when he reaches manhood. Pepin thought of joining his ships as a carpenter and learn all the trades necessary to become captain, and gain the spoils of piracy to support a family. Homer nodded in an apathetic manner. The maidservant entered with warmed milk for the frozen guest. Homer ordered a manservant to return the sled and horse to the carpenter and explain his apprentice will be spending the night at his house. Pepin was taken to the guest room and put to bed. Ishtar and the children visited his room with thanks for saving Marah. He came down to eat with the family in the great hall. The family ate at one table by the fireplace. Maidservants brought in trays of pork pies, cherry preserves, green beans, cheese, and bread with choice of butter or honey topping. Marah looked well and eager to tell Pepin her delight in him staying.

After the midday meal, Layla and her husband came with gifts and took Mariah and the Nubian captives sledding. Homer, Ishtar, Patrix, Ilio, Jack, Lilibeth, Daphne, Godiva, and Evan soon came out to join them. Ishtar and Homer sledded down together and Chloe sledded with Layla. Mariah hung on to Jack. When Layla’s husband asked Chloe what her family is like, she can’t describe them. Her father was always off hunting and praying in the temple, mother was often angry with servants and hosting parties, her brothers were always involved with their studies and placing frogs in her bed, and her sister was her personal doll who followed Chloe around with their nurse. Her nurse would sing and tell stories of Aferdia where she was captured as a slave. She was very sad when she died in childbirth, but her mother told her not to weep because she’ll get her another slave to be her nurse. Then next nurse ran away and was dragged back to be whipped in the courtyard. She never saw her again. Then a snowball hit her cape to wake her up from her daydream. All the elves were tossing snowballs at each other. She detested being hit with cold and wet ice and had trouble making balls with her tiny hands. Layla’s husband made balls for her to toss. She saw Ishtar running away from Homer chasing her with a ball to watch Ishtar get tackled. They landed on a snow drift to roll around like dogs. Then Homer grabbed her shoulder to kiss her. Ilio and Jack hit them with snowballs. Homer got up but never caught the boys. Soon little Godiva and Evan got cold so Ishtar took them inside.

Ilio and Jack dug into a drift to make Mariah, Lilibeth and Daphne a snow cave. Layla snuggled into the cave with her feet sticking out. Then a large deer came out into the clearing and stared at the elves, humans, and mermaid playing in the snow. Ilio whistled a peculiar tune to obtain everyone’s attention and the deer paced away. The girls began to shiver and the party ended to begin anew in the sitting room where warm spiced milk and biscuits were being served. Godiva was wrapped in her woolen shawl sitting next to the fireplace with Ishtar. Evan sat on the floor playing with a cat pawing at a string. Two ferrets wrestled with each other on the bear rug. Lexie had come by and brought them gifts but didn’t wish to disrupt their party outside. Godiva proudly showed them her ivory doll with wool clothes and leather boots decorated with shell beads. The children gazed upon their gifts from Lexie. Ilio, Jack, and Evan received ivory whale, seal, and dolphin figures. Marah, Mariah, Lilibeth and Daphne received ivory dolls with different color of clothing and beads. Ishtar received an ivory pendant in the shape of a sea horse on a string of tiny seashells. Homer received an iron knife with a gold hilt in the shape of a seal. Ishtar said the gold came from the Amazon Valley. Patrix wondered if he was left out of this gift giving, but Lexie left him a sealskin coat. As Chloe sat down a cat jumped into her lap and purred a comforting tune. Chloe grew fond of this cat eager for attention. Soon another visitor came that day, Serena and Colby with their sons. The families exchanged gifts. Godiva did not receive a gift. They stopped by a shack where the children huddled in a bed to keep warm because the fire had gone out. Their mother was gone looking for wood all day. They gave the children the food they had brought for them and one saw the gift basket for Homer’s family. The girl asked what the furry object was, for she had never seen a doll before. The mother returned with twigs and thanked them for the bread. Serena’s son felt sorry for the girl too poor to have a wooden doll so he gave her Godiva’s gift. Serena took a shell bead necklace with a large whelk in the center off her neck to give to Godiva. Ishtar recited a poem she wrote for the celebration.

“I dance to no music because the song is in my heart
It whispers a faint melody over mountains and streams
I sing to no music because it plays through the trees
Floating in the breeze in the forest of dreams
I tap a beat to create a sweet symphony
To soar over the sea enchanting every sun ray
I hum without rhythm because it echoes in my soul
It rides upon feathers and the stars guiding the way
I pray for hope, for warmth, for light
And all the reasons we alone bide the cold night.”

Chloe thought it was very beautiful imagery but lost on its meaning. Homer turned to her and explained she described her love for her family and how she misses him when he leave her. Her sorrow is the cold night and music inside her that extends all over the world is her love and extending her love through dreaming of him inside her head. Next came the announcement of Ishtar having a baby next spring. Chloe noted Homer did not appear surprised. The next day Pepin was sick with a terrible rash that grew into a delirious fever. Ishtar healed him but could not cure his new found deafness that occurred days later. Homer taught him hand gestures he uses in battle and to speak to a mute boy who lives down the lane. Word came of many children were sick with this scarlet fever and Ishtar tried to visit every home. Pepin returned to the carpenter’s home with a betrothal contract in his hand. He had no money for a proper betrothal gift so he gave Marah a kiss good-bye. Marah gave him a mating pair of goats to make money for his family. He promised to give her a sash in the spring for her betrothal gift. Pepin stopped by the home of the mute boy who was born deaf and never learned to speak. He continued on with his carpentry work and visited the boy whenever he could. The grand festival over with, the evergreen trees and wreaths were taken to the carpenter. Soon Homer returned home after a patrol with a bad cough. He brushed off the sniffles as an inconvenience and continues reading reports from lords on other islands. One lord on Isle of Thor to the south needs supplies after a fire wiped out the town of Tirah. Another lord took in refugees from Tiki on their way to Kadacia looking to supply their ship after a storm. Then Homer could not stop coughing and dropped his scrolls. Ishtar ordered him to bed and Ilio picked up the scrolls to follow his parents. Homer collapsed in the hall and Ishtar called for guards to carry Homer to bed. They carried him upstairs and dress him for bed. Ilio carefully lays the scrolls on a writing table. A guard takes notice of Ilio watching them while Ishtar feels Homer’s forehead. She demands ice, towels, and her medicine bag. A guard takes Ilio along to get the required items. Ishtar is frantic as Homer begins to shake and cough up blood while unconscious.

Ilio helps his mother prepare ice wrapped in towels and retrieves water from the wash basin to sponge his hot forehead. They turn him on his side with a towel by his mouth to prevent any fluid from blocking his throat. Ishtar never leaves his side trying desperately to break his fever. His shaking comes to an end as the maidservants announce the evening meal is ready. One volunteers to sponge his forehead while Ishtar eats her meal. Ishtar will not be removed from her husband. Ilio begs his mother to eat something in the bed chamber and he will sponge his forehead. Ishtar consents and trays are brought up. Exhausted, Ishtar rests in a chair and Ilio takes over as Homer coughs up more blood. She eats her bread, apple rings, peas, and wine with eyes wide open waiting for Homer to wake up. He begins to stir and moan. Ishtar rushes to his bedside to watch him open his eyes. He spoke their names with a raspy voice and Ishtar brags how she told him that he was too sick to work. Homer is given willow bark powder and a glass of wine to help to his chest pain and fever. The wet towels are removed and Ilio takes them down to the laundress. He brings broth and bread back. Ishtar feeds Homer and Ilio takes the meal trays to the kitchen. Ishtar did not wish the maidservants to also get sick so she deemed Ilio her orderly. She also took over the scrolls and wrote out replies to the lords. Ilio during this time sat next to his father’s bed and ran wet cloths along his arms. When she finished, she took over the cooling of the fever and Ilio studied his history lessons. Homer alert enough corrects a battle song about the Elf War for he knew elves that fought it and the events in the song are inaccurate. As bedtime approached, Homer insisted Ishtar rest from her work this afternoon. She refused to leave. Homer then asked to speak to Ilio alone so Ishtar left the room.

“Come, sit.” Homer requested. “You know I despise having people see me weak for being strong all the time has its price. You on the other hand are beginning to act like a man helping your mother today and I am proud of you. Now convince your mother to sleep in her own room because she is getting on my nerves fussing over me.”

Ilio stepped out into the hallway to see his mother worried sick and insisted she rest a while he took over watch. When she awakes, she can take her turn at watching him sleep. If anything happens, he can handle it since he has seen his father many times heal his sailors. Ishtar relented and went to bed. Ilio changed his clothes, assured a worried Godiva that father was alright, and retrieved wool blankets to sleep on his father’s bear rug on the floor by the fireplace. He placed more wood on the fire and gave more willow powder and wine to his father. They slept the night peacefully and later in the night Ishtar crept into bed with Homer not wishing to disturb Ilio. The next few days Homer mostly slept and coughed. Ilio continued his studies and chores. Chloe visited him to read in elfish about his home village heroes and heroines: Chieftess Daphne the Wise who fought off Lotans trying to steal their grain, Chief Trevor the Swamp Fox who fought off nomads trying to steal their cattle, and the travels of Dylan the Sea Fox who fought pirates off the coast of Litsy. Patrix enters to recite the adventures of tutoring Mariah and for the winter, his children. The children took turns visiting to tattle on who did what to whom. Ishtar read all the reports and wrote out replies. After a week, Homer was strong enough to sit in his sitting room and write out his own replies. In a few more weeks, he went back out into the city on patrol with Ilio at his side. Ilio was approaching the age of apprenticeships and he wanted to be a sailor. Homer put him on Colby’s ship patrolling the coastline and Patrix presented a knife that will get used. His school days over with, Ilio devoted every waking moment to learning to captain a ship. He swabbed. He knotted ropes. He repaired sails. He even guided the tiller. He then learned to use instruments and stars to locate himself on an incomplete map. Once a week, he returned home on his shore leave.

Soon it was maple syrup season and the Nubians helped tap the trees while Ishtar boiled the sap into sugar, cream, and syrup. Homer came to rest in the sugar shack and dropped a spoonful of boiled syrup onto a tree stump covered with snow. The Nubians were delighted at this maple candy as were the children. Chloe knew incenses burned came from tree saps in Sheba, but never thought a cold environment produced a sweet sugar that lasted a long time. Ishtar informed her that she used the sugar in her Winter Solstice treats. Chloe desired to take some of this sugar back with her when she returned to Nubia. Maple syrup was set on the dining tables to spread over bread. Homer took Pepin and Patrix on his last ice fishing excursion of the season and salted enough fish to last all spring. Then all the soldiers cut ice from the rivers and stashed it in a cellar to cover the blocks with straw. Word came of Nubian pirate attacks on Blythan colonies making many colonists return to their home country and seek refuge in Adea. Homer sent out half his fleet to guard Bear Island, keeping the other half guarding the Mermaid Islands. Chloe was permitted to write a letter to her family assuring of her safety, but never mentioned her pregnancy. She prayed it was her dead husband’s child, but Ishtar counted months correctly to make it Fletcher’s child. Homer decided that the child would be turned over to his grandparents in Ithaca when Chloe goes home that spring. Fletcher’s brother Mishca promised to take the child to Ithaca. Nothing was spared from his brother’s headless body so he had nothing else to give his parents as he broke the news of his murder. Watching his brother’s beheading had changed Mishca. He begged to ask Queen Lexie for a quest to prove his worth and rise in Homer’s ranks faster, but never approached Lexie when she visited. His glory could equate his doom and he had to survive and teach the baby all about its family. Mariah dictated a letter to her family with Patrix and sent a sample of her needlework.

A new Nubian king was announced as Ajax died on his journey home from wound sickness. Chloe’s sister, Queen Zoe, was married to their younger brother Iago as he was crowned the next king. When Chloe’s letter arrived with Homer’s threat of tossing her over a Tanis watchtower if his ransom was not met, King Iago under Queen Zoe’s prodding presented a chest of one thousand gold pieces to Homer’s men. Spring arrived to watch human farmers plow fields with wooden plows pulled by cattle and elves use digging sticks. Wheat for bread, flax for linen, barley for bread, vegetables, and hemp to make rope were planted. A festival celebrating the spring equinox was celebrated with painted boiled eggs and the pause in hunting of rabbits. Bonfires were lit and feasts eaten. Spring also brought the birth of Princess Hermione from Queen Chloe. Layla got married to her Nubian elf lover and Layla’s husband built a large thatch-roofed home inside Adea to set up a carpentry shop. He had much business making and fixing ships. The mermaid heroine of the Battle of Tirzah received many gifts from mermaids and elves alike. Homer gave a bag of shell beads to trade with. Pepin completed his three years as a carpenter’s apprentice and under Homer’s assistance Layla’s husband took him on as an employee. He presented the sash he wove to Marah when he moved back into his family’s house. He wrote many messages on a wax tablet since his family didn’t understand sign language. Marah visited often teaching this new language and grew more fond of Pepin each day. She confessed that even though he desired to be a ship captain, she prayed he would stay here with her and felt guilty causing his deafness. Pepin simply smiles and pats her hand.

Ishtar soon gave birth to a boy named Nuri and many visited to present gifts. Chloe gave her a gourd rattle Marah helped her make. Patrix gave her a soft cotton blanket. A large Queen Lexie and the other pregnant mermaids arrived along the beaches to make shelters for their new babies. Lexie sent over to Ishtar a sealskin cape. Young maidens hunted crab and oysters while children picked up twigs for fires. Elves came by to trade and make linen robes for the mermaids. Homer was soon summoned from his fishing day to attend Queen Lexie’s birth inside her willow tree home. She named her daughter Tara. Elves, humans, fauns, unicorns, and mermaids came with gifts for the Queen of the North Sea. Chloe gave the queen a linen blanket she embroidered seashells, starfish, and dolphins on. Ishtar gave three tunics for the baby decorated with turtles, starfish, and sea horses. Patrix meeting Lexie the first time presented a cotton tunic. A trying day came when several cows got stuck in a mud hole and had to be pulled out. Homer pulled himself up by his bootstraps and got planks of wood for the cows to walk on as they pulled on the rope tied to their necks. Godiva soon perked up her ears to whisper the wind was crying. Homer paused and heard it too. Beacons were lit and bells tolled announcing trouble. Patrols were sent out and the last of the trapped cows were rescued. As Ishtar rushes outside with Homer’s weapons, horse patrols came rushing down the lane leading into the mountains with an urgent message that the mermaid village near Nimrod Cove on the other side of the island was being attacked. Mermaids were being harpooned swimming under the pirate ship while more fired arrows at the beach. They didn’t know if the pirates made it to land yet.

Homer collected his armor, bow, and sword and then jumped on his saddled horse. Many palace guards followed him through the mountain valley collecting soldiers along the way. When they reached the village Nimrod, they found many dead bodies with hands, eyes, and hair cut off. Babies and children were impaled on spears sticking up out of the sand. Smoke led them to the pirates burning the mermaid shacks further down the beach. Homer ordered no mercy to be showed and his soldiers showed none as they attacked. Next came ship patrols full of armed warriors. After the massacre, the soldiers stripped the pirates of anything of value and tossed the bodies into the burning homes. The few mermaids who escaped returned from the human village that burnt the first beacon. Lexie was furious at the report and finally ordered Chloe off her island. Homer begged that part of the ransom was paid so they rest will be coming. Next, Lexie ordered more soldiers to guard the mermaids and help hunt for food along the rivers. Homer returned home to weep for a special mermaid he often traded with and taught her children how to read elf. Her children were impaled and she was found lying on the sand chopped in pieces. The mermaid children who made it to Nimrod carrying their baby siblings were taken by Lexie into her shelters. The dead mermaids were taken to an underwater cave along the cove and buried in the sand. A month later another one thousand gold pieces came from Nubia.
Chloe enjoyed time with her daughter and prayed the rest of the ransom arrived before the next winter. New linen and cotton clothes were made for her and Hermione while the winter wardrobe was packed away for future visitors. A convoy of three ships arrived and patrols approached to ask their business. A Kadacian explained that the ships are from the north lands beyond Dacia and Armorica. They are following the coast of this continent for their king and heard in Noor that a great map of the North and South Seas could be found where the mermaids rule. The boat people were welcomed and a feast held in their honor. One drunkard sailor grabbed a woman’s arm to dance with him and started a fight with the woman’s husband. To end the argument, the elf husband smashed a ewer on the sailor’s head to knock him out cold. The elf man apologized to Homer explaining he will replace his ewer. The ship captain apologized on behalf of his sailor to the offended couple and his hosts. At nightfall, Homer took the captain to the tallest tower to show his map of the seas and direct him to the lands using the stars as a compass. Homer refused to hand over his map of the seas to the captain, but promised to create another one on a piece of parchment without his islands on it for he was unsure of this distant king’s intentions are trade or conquest. The Kadacian translator told stories of the northern people of Iceland hunting narwhales with tusks, large reindeer, and great white bears. They have a short planting season and long winters so they have little goods to sell other than furs and ivory. They live in leather tents along the coast or in ice houses further inland. They wear seal and bear fur hooded cloaks and boots on the outside and reindeer leather clothing on the inside. They make sealskin boats since wood is scarce. They use whale and seal oils for fires and eat much fish and dried reindeer raw. One kingdom has a copper filled river, but most metal tools have to be traded for. All this intrigued the elves and humans. After a few days of negotiating the trade for the map, Homer sent away his new trading partners with a good map of the seas. He enjoyed the Iceland bear fur he exchanged the map with and had it sewn into a blanket for his bed. He sent a priest and his apprentice to go with the ships to learn more about this Iceland. He expects a full report when they return.

Midsummer’s came and went with another one thousand gold pieces from Nubia. Layla gave birth to twin girls Freya and Brighid and Homer held a feast in his fortress for three days inviting anyone wishing to bestow a gift to the new mother. Lexie presented a purse of pearls. Ishtar gave her a shoulder bag she made. Homer gave her a horse with padded saddle and a pair of goats. Upon hearing the news from Homer, Ricky arrived with his wife and new baby god to give a rooster and three hens. Anastia insisted on this gift to his former love who broke his heart to prove he holds no ill will against her anymore. The autumn and winter came with the rest of the ransom making Chloe relieved to be finally going home after a year and half of captivity. Many Blythan colonies had been burned by this time and Bear Island fought off their Nubian attacks. Ithaca was still suffering from raids and the king sent a letter grateful of the care Homer has been giving his daughter. Pepin had been hired to do carpentry around the palace and made furniture in his spare time. A few elf pirates were discovered missing and feared captured. Even worse was much driftwood from destroyed ships floated around the sea to many islands. Homer was still certain his fortress on top of a cliff could hold off a siege by Nubians changing their tactics and weapons since their defeat in Blythe. The captive Nubian soldiers returned on a ship with a message affirming Chloe will return on the harvest celebration of Nubia. Hermione was safely escorted by Mishca to his parents’ villa in Ithaca while Patrix returned Mariah to the palace. Chloe packed her meager belongings and gifts to walk outside finding four horses sparkling of fire tied to a chariot. Ishtar was petting the animal torches without being singed. She spoke a strange language that was not elfish and the horses spit out fire from their nostrils and ears.

“Come. We must get you home.” spoke Ishtar.